44 ' CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 



immature bird imitating the calls of the adults, its voice, how- 

 ever, being harsher. Both young and adults had a wholesome 

 respect for dogs and chickens. They would allow a man to 

 approach within four or five feet of them before flying or 

 running. 



At Wreck Bay, Chatham Island, about three weeks later, I 

 saw three adults chasing other adults about and making the 

 same long cackling calls, always standing very erect for a mo- 

 ment before giving the call. In this case their actions may 

 have been a form of courtship. 



This species calls throughout the year, uttering a short 

 squawk as well as the long cackling call, which latter can best 

 be described as beginning with a chuckle and then breaking 

 into a cackling laugh. 



Not infrequently this species was seen in company with 

 various other birds. Of such association the three following 

 instances are good examples: 1. One day in early March 

 there were a good many paddling about and calling in one 

 of the lagoons near Villamil, Intermingled with them were 

 Egrets, Galapagos Herons, Bahama Pintails, and Black- 

 necked Stilts. 2. At southeast Narborough this species was 

 noticed in company with Blue-footed Boobies, Flightless Cor- 

 morants, Brown Pelicans, and Galapagos Herons, on a small 

 islet about ten by thirty feet in dimensions, 3. On a rocky 

 point on the northeast side of James Island a gull was seen 

 standing in the midst of a compact flock of Blue-footed 

 Boobies. 



Their competitors on the water seemed to be chiefly the 

 Graceful Petrel and the Man-o'-war Bird. These two species 

 were usually present whenever there was any refuse about. 

 Other petrels of the Dusky Shearwater also entered in a 

 lesser degree into the competition. About the settlements, 

 chickens, dogs, cats, and pigs were their chief rivals. 



The feet of individuals of this species seem to be subject to 

 a good many accidents, for specimens with split webs were 

 frequent and those with deformed toes occasional. 



The plumages of this species have been so thoroughly de- 

 scribed by previous writers that there is little to add, so far 

 as the Academy's series is concerned. The white streak on 

 each eyelid, which characterizes the adults, is represented in 



